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#2
05-03-06, 00:15
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According to the “History of the Fifteenth Canadian Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 1939-1945” by Capt. Robert A. Spencer (1945), this unit was equipped with Ram OP Tanks. This surprised me because it is a towed 25pdr Regiment and not SP. They received their Ram OP’s in June 1943. The Rams were slowly replaced by Sherman OP’s as the Rams were lost.
A photo from 15th Fd’s History  The 15th Fd Regt. was used to support the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the South Alberta Regiment, of the 4th CAD. Below is a photo of the Regt. HQ of the South Albertas in Bergen op Zoom. Note the Ram OP tank in the center of the photo, most likely from the 15th Fd Regt. 
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#3
07-03-06, 02:30
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Rams of the 15 Fd Regt
The War Diary of the Elgin Regt (25 Cdn Armd Del Regt) lists the following deliveries to the 15 Cdn Fd Regt RCA.
April 29 1944; 6 Rams May 21 1944; 6 Rams No specification is made as to what kind of Rams they are, but I assumed them to be OP tanks. Tony Viste
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#5
07-03-06, 12:39
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Re: Rams of the 15 Fd Regt
Quote:
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#6
08-03-06, 03:25
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OPs, Towers, SPs
Kevin and John,
I only starting looking at the War Diaries from about Feb 44 onwards and it was in Mar 44 that the first deliveries are recorded. The next time I look at the film I will search back into 1943 and see what there is. So at least from Feb 44 onwards these are the only deliveries to 15 Fd Regt RCA. For March, April and May 44 only outgoing vehicles are listed, no incoming. So if a vehicle was returned it doesn’t show it. Also vehicles are listed by 4 types only, “Sherman, Ram, Stuart, Crusader”. No other distinction is made, and no WD numbers. Starting in June 44 the Regiment started using a Daily Vehicle State. Supposedly each Squadron was to fill it out, but on the film that I am viewing only “F” Sqn and a few “E” Sqn returns are present. I’m hoping that “D” and “C” Sqn returns are on the next microfilm. These Daily Vehicle States do list each vehicle by WD number, from whom received and to who issued. Very interesting reading. From the June, July and part of August returns on this film I’ve recorded 738 WD numbers. It took me a little while to figure this out but it helps to understand the Delivery Regiment. It was divided into Squadrons and each squadron prepared vehicles for delivery to different units, i.e., F Sqn issued vehicles to First Cdn Army Troops E Sqn issued vehicles to 2 Cdn Corps Troops D Sqn issued vehicles to 4 Cdn Armd Div C Sqn issued vehicles to 2 Cdn Armd Bde From what I understand “F” Sqn would receive most vehicles from the Ordnance Dumps, then issue them to individual Sqns. But there was some flexibility in this. For instance, especially in June, 4 Cdn Armd Div units would draw vehicles directly from “F” Sqn to speed up delivery so they could be waterproofed before 4 Div embarked for Normandy. So for the 23 Fd Regt RCA it had deliveries of Rams (again, in Apr and May no distinction is made whether it is an OP or a SP 25pr) on: 29 Apr 44 – 7 Rams 16 May 44 – 6 Rams 20 May 44 – 6 Rams 26 May 44 – 1 Ram 10 Jun 44 – Ram SP 25 pr S204799 - Ram SP 25 pr S204802 - Ram SP 25 pr S233926 14 Jun 44 - Ram SP 25 pr S204813 - Ram SP 25 pr S233771 - Ram SP 25 pr S233992 - Ram SP 25 pr S234076 As for the Ram O.P.s only six are recorded. “F” Sqn delivered to “E” Sqn on 12 Jun 44 (and since not all of “E” Sqns returns are present on this film I can’t say for sure to which unit took final delivery) CT202123 CT205132 CT205133 CT205145 CT205159 CT205161 As for the Ram Tower 17pr only nine are recorded by WD number. CT159403; 3 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA CT40134; 3 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA CT40198; 17 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA CT40226; 28 Jul 44; F Sqn issued to 27 Armd Bde Wksp (wasn’t 27 Armd Bde disbanded by then????) CT40235; 28 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to E Sqn CT40243; 29 Jun 44; F Sqn received from 4 VRD CCOD CT40264; 21 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA CT40323; 3 Jun 44; F Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA CT40799; 17 Jul 44; E Sqn issued to 6 A/Tk Regt RCA 6 A/Tk Regt RCA received the following Rams in March and May 44 (again, I assume these to be Towers 17pr) 3 Mar 44 - 25 Rams (13 to 56 A/Tk Bty and 12 to 33 A/Tk Bty) 12 May 44 - 2 Rams 13 May 44 - 17 Rams (I’m just guessing here but I think the 25 in March might have been trainers. The 19 in May and 6 more in June & July makes for a total of 25. Weren’t there only about 24 17 prs in a Corps A/Tk Regt????) For those interested the microfilm I’m referring to is T-12735. I’m definitely ordering this one and the next one during my next microfilm order from the Archives. Hope I answered your questions. Tony Viste
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#7
08-03-06, 04:32
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Thank you Tony for that info.
The 15th Fd history dose not give much detail about the arrival of vehicles during the spring of 1944, except for this in early June “More operational vehicles arrived – White Scout cars to replace HUWs as ‘G’ and ‘Y’ vehicles”.
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#8
08-03-06, 19:45
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Ram gun towers
Tony,
That is great info thank you. If you come across any other WD's please let me know. Just to add to your list for 6th A/T RCA, I have the following: All start CT, 40122, 40123, 40136, 40138, 40142, 40144, 40146, 40153, 40165, 40170, 40213, 40214, 40223, 40224, 40228, 40231, 40256, 40257, 40260, 40420, 40587 I make that 28 in all! Some must have been replacements. Cheers Kevin 
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#9
18-03-06, 14:45
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Canadian WD Numbers
Tony -
Could not help but notice you superb listing of WD numbers. I have been trying to put together the ultimate list of all T & CT series WD numbers - Brit, Canadian, Australian, Indian etc. Ref the canadian numbers, the Canadian War Diaries held here in UK are the 'tertiary' copies only and do not hold any of the Annexes, as they do over with you. To that end, would it be possible for you to post any copies of WD number lists you come across in Canadian Archives ? This would be such a real help in this massive project. Ref 25 Tk Del Regt, you ain't seen nothing yet ! If you go to the Diary for Feb 45, you will see huge listings for the vehs sent from Italy to NWE, listed by unit to LST shipped across on. Thanks for the details so far Roddy
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#10
18-03-06, 20:42
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Tonyand Kevin,
I will be adding this data to the Ram registry shortly. Clive
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. - M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE
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#12
25-03-06, 12:31
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Re: Interior layout
Quote:
There are well illustrated layouts in either of these two manuals..Contact me off line if you require same.. #56: 72 pages TANK, CRUISER, Ram II, Command and Observation Post, Operators Manual, April '43. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #A57: 128 pages TANK, CRUISER,RAM 1 and 2 Operations and Maintenance ,Illustrated.Includes lubrication and Stowage Charts.May 1942
__________________
Alex Blair :remember :support :drunk:
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#13
25-03-06, 16:04
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Re: Interior layout
Quote:
You mean like this:
__________________
Mark
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#14
25-03-06, 16:50
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That's ideal
Thanks Mark,
I am working on the Formations Ram II OP kit and wanted to put in some lower hull interior. A couple of questions if I may? The two slots, one either side of the "barrel", are these observers slots? Is the commanders forward seat actually on the drive shaft cover? And you don't happen to have a side-on view by any chance? Cheers Kevin 
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#17
27-03-06, 19:13
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Re: That's ideal
Quote:
There was a direct vision port installed under the dummy gun (see attached). Cheers
__________________
Mark
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#19
27-03-06, 22:10
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There was also a set of range-finding scopes in a v-shape (can't remember the proper name). I have one half of that set, taken from a Ram OP in Normandy by a man long passed. The other half went to his other son, and I asked after it, but have never heard back. I don't know how they were mounted on/in the turret, but they were OD.
__________________
SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support
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#21
05-04-06, 04:31
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Ram registry updated
There have been a number of additions to the Ram Registry. As always, contributions in the way of WD numbers, DND numbers and photos, are always welcome.
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. - M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE Last edited by servicepub (RIP); 09-04-06 at 05:48.
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#22
05-04-06, 15:05
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Although not linked to the main page of the Ram Registry I have set up a Ram Photo Gallery also. This will be linked in the near future.
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. - M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE Last edited by servicepub (RIP); 09-04-06 at 05:49.
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#23
09-04-06, 01:44
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The Ram Registry now has its own domain "RamTank.ca
Latest update is both a photo gallery and an art gallery as well as many more WD entries updated thanks to lists received from Bill Miller.
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. - M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE Last edited by servicepub (RIP); 09-04-06 at 05:50.
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#24
09-04-06, 15:17
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I was in a book store yesterday and I came across a book entitled “Because We Are Canadians: A Battlefield Memoir” by Charles D. Kipp. He was a member of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. There is a photo of a Ram OP tank in Bergen op Zoon. The photo below is from Donald Graves book “South Albertas” The photo in Hipp’s book is of the same tank but is a front view and shows better detail. If someone has this book maybe they can scan the photo and post it here.
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#25
09-04-06, 17:51
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Quote:
__________________
Mark
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#26
09-04-06, 22:14
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Quote:
I saw the original many years ago at an exhibition at the Royal Netherlands Army Museum.  Source: http://www.1cacr.org/gallery.html
__________________
Regards, Hanno --------------------------
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#27
09-04-06, 22:22
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Quote:
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed. - M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE
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#28
03-06-06, 20:33
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Today I found a book about the Royal Marines in a bookshop. I found one interesting photo of a line of three Ram Command/O.P.'s driving down a Normandy beach, but I did not think it was worth buying the book for that picture alone, although it is a really nice one.
Luckily, the Public Archives number was listed so I just looked it up on collectionscanada.ca: Quote:
H.
__________________
Regards, Hanno --------------------------
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#30
03-06-06, 23:39
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RamII O.P.tanks in NWE
I was in the 23rd Field Regiment (S.P.) RCA. in WW II
Our regiment was equipped with the Sexton's ( 25 pdr's on Ram tank Chassis) and our O.P. tanks were Shermans ( with dummy guns) We had to remove the breech blocks inside the turrets to make room for our arty boards. I would imagine that the FOO's OF THE 15th Field used these O.P. vehicles too. We were an armoured Div and Jerry was always on the look out for arty FOO's, they would have been easily spotted had they been in any other type of vehicle. Herb Danter
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